KANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR
Gary R. Mitchell, Secretary

November 30, 1998

Contact: Jan Stegelman, 785-296-1223

Keeping the Holiday "Sparkle" Safe

"Parents and care givers are often very busy preparing for festivities and may forget to think about potential hazards in the home," says Jan Stegelman of the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition. "Holiday decorations can pose a hazard to a child's health when sparkle is made a priority over safety."

The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition recommends the following safety tips to keep your holiday season safe:

Decorate your tree using only UL (Underwriters' Lab Inc.) approved lights and cords. Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. Do not overload extension cords. Use no more than three strings of lights on one extension cord, and never run an electrical cord under a carpet. Be sure to secure electrical cords so that children cannot pull them and topple the tree. Keep toddlers away from electrical fixtures and install outlet plate covers or large outlet covers on electrical sockets when they are not in use. Small plastic outlet covers may pose a choking hazard.

Turn off the tree lights when you go to bed or leave the home.

Keep burning candles out of children's reach; keep matches and lighters out of sight and locked away.

Teach children not to touch burning candles.

Do not place candles near draperies or anything that might easily catch fire.

If you build a fire in the fireplace, use a screen and do not leave young children unattended in the room. Make sure you put out fires and candles when you go to bed or leave the home. Do not leave candles unattended.

Install smoke alarms in your home on every level and in every sleeping area.

Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year. Home fires and home fire-related deaths are more likely to occur during the cold-weather months.

Look for a fresh tree if you choose to buy a natural tree. Fresh trees are less likely to catch fire than older trees. (A safer option is to buy a fire-resistant, artificial tree.)

Keep your tree in a container full of water and check it daily.

Use a wide-based stand to make sure the tree is secure and will not fall over.

Cover the tree basin with a tree skirt or blanket.

Keep the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators and heating vents.

Trim the lower branches to avoid eye injuries to small children.

Decorate your tree with children in mind. Do not put breakable ornaments, ornaments with small, detachable parts, ornaments with metal hooks, or ornaments that look like food or candy on the lower branches where small children can reach them. Also, make sure tree lights are hung out of reach of young children.

Never burn Christmas tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in your fireplace.

Dispose of your tree promptly after the holidays.

Some foods and objects pose a choking hazard to young children, especially children under age 5. To help prevent unintentional chokings during the holidays:

Keep round, hard foods and candies such as candy cane pieces, mints, nuts and popcorn out of reach of children under age five.

Keep small ornaments, tinsel, small figurines and other decorations away from children's reach. Young children have a tendency to put everything in their mouths.

While preparing your home for the holidays, be aware of poisons that can come in seemingly innocent and unexpected forms.

Open the flue in your fireplace when burning a fire to provide adequate

ventilation. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning increases dramatically in the winter. Proper ventilation reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Have all fuel-burning appliances checked annually before use in cold-weather months. Install UL-approved carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

Keep alcoholic drinks and containers out of reach. Holiday beverages such as eggnog that contain alcohol may be sweet and inviting to young children. Do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended since they might be harmful to children if swallowed.

Keep common baking ingredients such as vanilla and almond extract out of reach. They contain high levels of alcohol and may be harmful to young children if swallowed.

Beware of fire salts used in fireplaces to produce colored flames. They contain heavy metals and cause intense gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if eaten.

Keep poisonous plants out of reach. Watch for holly and mistletoe berries that fall on the ground because they are very poisonous plants if eaten. Other poisonous holiday plants include: amaryllis, azalea, boxwood, Christmas rose, Crown of Thorns, English ivy and Jerusalem cherry. Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous, but they can cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress.

Avoid using artificial snow sprays to decorate. These sprays can cause lung irritation if inhaled.

List poison control center and emergency medical service phone numbers by all telephones. In addition, leave a phone number for babysitters so they can reach you if you go out to a holiday party.

Keep ipecac syrup in the home to induce vomiting. Use only on the advice of a poison control center or a physician.